The case with Vibrava proves that sometimes using the right move can lead your opponent to self-destruction.
But having Chansey step in is technically considered cheating.
There's a suspicion of two against one.
Baimu used a brush prepared at the edge of the field to clean Vibrava's body and face, pondering how to persuade it after it wakes up.
"Gu?"
"Hard to say, I hope it can cooperate a little, after all, it's an external aid."
"Lucky..."
"No need to feel so sad, you didn't do anything unnecessary, ending its suffering sooner is the right thing to do."
He chatted idly with the two Pokémon, and Vibrava slowly woke up.
"Lafu!"
Just awake, it suddenly jerked back a few meters, looking at Aron and Baimu with a wary expression, but when it saw Chansey, it fell into contemplation.
"La...fu?"
"Lucky~"
Not knowing what Vibrava said, Chansey weakly nodded its head.
"Lafu!"
The guy abruptly got excited, eyes gleaming as it approached, and this enthusiastic behavior scared the latter so much that it hurriedly hid behind Baimu.
"Stop, what do you want to do to my little partner?"
Baimu also immediately shielded Chansey behind him, and Aron stepped forward a few steps, giving Vibrava a warning growl.
It tilted its head, looked again at the timid pink little egg, fell to the ground, and moved forward with its four long legs, its antennae bobbing up and down as it touched the young man's hand in front.
"Lafu!"
"Hmm?"
Baimu looked at its obedient demeanor, quite surprised.
What made the rebellious Vibrava change its attitude so drastically...
Oh~
When he saw it make an expression of wanting to get close to Chansey, and feeling a bit disappointed when the latter backed away, perhaps the mystery was already solved.
"Looks like you've gained quite a lot of favorability." Baimu couldn't help but smile and turn to Chansey.
"Lucky?"
The latter was a bit puzzled.
"Don't understand? It means that Vibrava really appreciates you." He patted that fluffy little head, "Go accept the thanks from it."
Baimu once again pushed Chansey towards Vibrava.
Meanwhile, he exchanged a glance with Aron, sharing their opinion on whether the guy was pretending to surrender.
The conclusion is—
Can't let our guard down.
So.
Aron watched Vibrava approach Chansey, ready to smash it away with Iron Head at any time.
Fortunately, most Pokémon are quite simple-minded, being influenced by the Trainer's intent.
Baimu and Aron's worries were unnecessary; Vibrava was truly grateful to Chansey, and it was through its cries that it judged who calmed its emotions.
Just like Ekans and Koffing from Rocket Team said, because the Trainer is a villain, the Pokémon do bad things. If the Trainer is a good person, the Pokémon naturally do good things, meaning Pokémon themselves don't have a stance.
—Such a utilitarian statement.
And Chansey received gratitude from Vibrava, which somewhat alleviated that inexplicable tension, and smiles appeared more on its face.
Aron, urged by Baimu, approached, and the three Pokémon gradually started interacting.
"Looks like we have the basic conditions for the competition gathered."
He exhaled and took out a sheet of paper full of words from his pocket.
Can't deny this support came in just in time, and it's precisely the individual he needed most right now—remote mobility output.
Aron might be durable, but currently, it doesn't have the ability for long-range attacks. Now, if we add the flying unit Vibrava and have Chansey as a backup.
A barely complementary team is established.
Sadly, borrowed is borrowed after all, and Vibrava will eventually leave, so I must find a third Pokémon to cover any shortcomings after the competition.
At this moment, taking a closer look at the crumpled paper, Baimu slowly constructs his preferred entries.
[Pokémon: Vibrava]
[Attribute: Ground + Dragon]
[Gender: Male]
[Height: 162cm/33kg]
[Trait: Levitate]
[Level: 39]
[Moves: Bite/Mud Shot/Stomp/Quicksand Hell]
[Rockslide/Ultrasonic/Dragon Breath/Power of the Earth/Bug Buzz]
To evaluate whether a Pokémon is powerful, a rough look judges by its level and the number of moves it knows, but a detailed analysis requires comparing the Pokémon's size, health condition, along with the quality and proficiency of the moves.
Some Pokémon may have learned a bunch of moves, but often, only a few are frequently used, while the rest are no different from fillers.
And if the skills are well played, the strength won't be lacking, like Ash Ketchum's Pikachu who has almost turned Electric Grid into an art, with trampolining or forming a Protective Shield, its plasticity is quite formidable.
This Vibrava, when comprehensively assessed, is definitely not bad.
Its size is far beyond its kin, with a height of 1.6 meters plus those powerful wings, grabbing onto it to fly shouldn't be an issue. Though few in skills, which of Rockslide, Power of the Earth, Stomp, and Bug Buzz is inferior?
Including Quicksand Hell, Ultrasonic, using them in specific environments surely will yield miraculous results.
No wonder it's the partner of a cadre; even though it's clearly not a main force Pokémon, it can still ensure such exceptional combat power.
Aron was able to slightly surpass it in the recent battle, truly a result of this fellow's pride and arrogance, carelessly underestimating the opponent. Surely, with a Trainer's command, it wouldn't have ended up in such a state.
Speaking of which, the combat power within various ranks of the Quicksand Team is surprisingly orderly.
According to what Baimu learned from others, typically, regular members don't have Pokémon levels higher than Level 20 or 30, and beyond that, Pokémon tend to become disobedient.
The gentle ones might occasionally follow through based on their own ideas during battles. Like how Ash Ketchum's Charizard, being rebellious, outright refuses to fight in crucial situations, no matter how much it's coaxed.
And by the Squad Leader Level, Pokémon's levels are generally around Level 40.
The cadre's main Pokémon generally exceed Level 50.
The highest cadre's Pokémon are a whole level above, rumored to usually surpass the threshold of Level 55 or even Level 60, exceptionally terrifying.
As for the strength of the highest rank's leader of the Quicksand Team, no one knows.
Of course, this is not absolute, there's always the outstanding and the peculiar, kind of like in cultivation novels where a Foundation Establishment Stage can battle against a Golden Core Stage, but most of the combat power is like this.
However, those participating in next week's competition are mostly the strength of regular members with none surpassing that.
"Still have to work hard."
Baimu watched the three Pokémon each lower their guard and play freely without any worries, and couldn't help but smile.
Beep beep beep——
A sharp sound interrupted their actions.
"Time's up everyone." Baimu brushed the dust off his body, "Joyful moments are always particularly short, we should head home."
The three Pokémon exchanged glances with each other, somewhat reluctantly, yet slowly gathered around.
He collected the three Pokémon with Pokeballs and was startled upon opening the door.
"Huh?"
By the door, Otsuka was vividly playing with a strange gaming console while riding Donphan, stopping immediately upon seeing him come out, "Finished already?"
"You've been at the door all along?" Baimu looked at him with an odd expression, "Didn't go play?"
Otsuka shook the gaming console, "Got this thing and came back because there are too many tempting things, I worry once I start buying, there won't be an end."
In a situation where almost all Trainers are living paycheck to paycheck, Otsuka's family actually has deposits of no less than two million, truly not easy, presumably withstands a lot of temptations.
"Do you want to play?"
"No."
Baimu declined the man's kind offer, realizing the other had waited at the door for over an hour, couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.
But there was no choice, certain private matters can't be showcased outside. Having extra people inside is not conducive to bonding with Pokémon.
The two set off on the return journey.
Given the time was just about noon, Baimu invited Otsuka to last time's restaurant for a meal, conveniently discussing the borrowing matter.
"Interest surely needs to be paid, taking advantage of someone is not right, even with close siblings, accounts must be clear. As for how much interest... how much do you hope for?"
"I really don't want any—well, since I paid 880,000, how about rounding it up to 900,000? About the loan term... ten years?"
"Ten years?"
"Twenty years is fine too!" Otsuka thought Baimu was displeased, quickly waving his hand, "Twenty-five years, thirty years..."
"One year."
He tapped the table, "Just one year, I'll repay you a rounded 900,000 including interest."
Otsuka opened his mouth but quickly closed it, not responding.
Baimu raised an eyebrow, "Don't you believe?"
"Repaying 900,000 in a year, no matter what..." Otsuka couldn't meet his gaze, murmuring bashfully.
These funds weren't saved by him alone, they also include the savings of his entire family and even from his grandparent's generation, only managing to save such an amount, and he says he'll repay within a year?
"Rest assured, saying one year means one year."
Baimu stated in an assertive tone, "After a couple of days when I learn to write an I.O.U., I'll write it for you."
"What? Okay..."
Otsuka nodded, hesitating, then tentatively asked, "Can you really earn that much within a year?"
"You'll see then."
He said no more, with a simulator in hand, not earning a million in a year would be too incompetent, it's not like saying a billion or two billion.
Unexpectedly, upon saying this, Otsuka's eyes sparkled as he asked, "Can you take me along?"
"I didn't mean in business... well, if there's a chance I'll take you."
Baimu casually replied.
Currently, he still does not fully trust Otsuka, but having more tools, isn't that better? As long as the pay is sufficient, it's fine.